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Engineering news The engineering organisations urged the government to invest 40m annually (Credit: Shutterstock)

More than 40 engineering organisations, including the IMechE, have urged the government to invest 40m annually to improve access to careers provision in English schools and colleges.

Aimed at enabling more young people to understand the opportunities available in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) careers, the call was first made byEngineeringUKin a June reportco-authored by the IMechE and other organisations.

Now, the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC), has backed the call and made six further urgent recommendations ahead of theupcoming Autumn Budget and the governments Comprehensive Spending Review. Bringing together the views of 42 engineering organisationsand ledby the Royal Academy of Engineering, the NEPC represents 450,000 UK engineers.

Ensuring that we have the number and diversity of future engineers to achieve the governments ambitions aroundnet zeroand economic growth requires government to develop a well-funded Stemeducation strategy with careers provision at the heart of it, saidBeatriceBarleon, head of policy and public affairs atEngineeringUK.

The recent report highlighted underfunding of careers provision,Barleonsaid, limiting what schools can offer to young people. This must change, she said.

Speaking about the 40m annual investment, she said:This small investment,in the context of the widerschoolsbudget, will ensure that schools have the capacity to fulfil their statutory duties in relation to careers provision in a meaningful way and help inspire the next generation of engineers. This is not only vital for the future of young people of this country and for levelling up, but also for the economic success of thiscountry.

The NEPCssixrecommended areas for investmentare:

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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

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Invest 40m annually to improve Stem education and secure future skills, engineering bodies urge government - Professional Engineering